What WR Laviska Shenault Jr. brings to the Jacksonville Jaguars

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes carries the ball against the Air Force Falcons in the fourth quarter of a game at Folsom Field on September 14, 2019 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

The Jacksonville Jaguars use their second-round draft pick to add another wide receiver to the team’s passing game in Laviska Shenault.

With good size at 6’1” and 227 pounds, Laviska Shenault from Colorado brings a big body to the Jacksonville Jaguars passing game.

He also gives quarterback Gardner Minshew another target in the passing game. Head coach Doug Marrone told the media last week he wanted to see this organization add more weapons on the offensive side of the ball.

The Jaguars just got one.

Shenault is not as fast as the other wide receivers on the roster, but his size is something the team does not have right now. According to Lindy’s Sports, he is compared to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Jacksonville can only hope for that kind of production.

Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, “He offers explosive playmaking potential with strength/wiggle to house a short catch-and-run throw or race and leap to pull in a bomb downfield. Shenault shines as a phone-booth bully who’s able to body up and create late windows while securing throws with vice-grip hands.”

The Jaguars saw DJ Chark breakout as a legitimate No. 1 wideout for the team in only his second season. Chris Conley came in during free agency last season and provided veteran leadership. Dede Westbrook battled through injuries last season to catch 66 passes and Keelan Cole showed flashes of his speed when called upon.

This wide receiver group was not as bad as some analysts might think and Shenault just made it better for the 2020 season.

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“Evaluators get excited by his talent as a direct-snap runner, but sometimes he’s too physical for his own good, which could bring his history of durability into play,” Zeirlein. Despite his traits and talent, there is work to be done as route-runner and coordinators need to determine how best to use him. He’s a high-end talent, but not a sure thing. An exciting ceiling but a lower floor.”

The Jaguars go into the 2020 season with Jay Gruden as the team’s new offensive coordinator. He will change the look of the offense with his variation of the West Coast offense, which uses short and intermediate passes downfield. This is a team that is changing the look of its offense to be more passing-friendly.

Shenault’s pick is also one for the future as Conley, Westbrook, and Cole could all be gone after this season. Chark is in his third year and lines up opposite of Shenault to offer the Jaguars a potentially dynamic passing game.